Interior equipment mounting structure for a vehicle incorporating head-protecting air bag body

ABSTRACT

During a collision, an air bag causes deformation of a roof head lining as the air bag expands. A roof head lining deformation limiting structure restricts inward deformation of the roof head lining. Thus, the roof head lining is prevented from interfering with an interior equipment, e.g., a sun visor, thereby reducing breakage of the sun visor provided adjacent the roof head lining. The deformation limiting structure can take the form of an assist grip or a card holder. Also, the assist grip or the card holder can be mounted onto a member, e.g., a bracket, that plastically deforms upon being struck by the occupant&#39;s head during a collision, thereby absorbing a portion of the impact that would otherwise be transferred to the occupant.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. 1. Field of the Invention

2. The present invention relates to an interior equipment mountingstructure for a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bag body,wherein a head-protecting air bag body accommodated along a pillarportion and a roof side rail portion unfolds similarly to a curtain dueto gas jetted by an inflator when a predetermined high load acts on aside portion of a vehicle body.

3. 2. Description of the Related Art

4. There has been proposed a head-protecting air bag device in which, inorder to improve the ability to protect the head of a vehicle occupantseated in a front seat when a predetermined high load acts on a sideportion of a vehicle body, an air bag body accommodated in a foldedstate over a region from a front pillar portion to a roof side railportion is caused to unfold along a side window glass similarly to acurtain. This type of head-protecting air bag device is disclosed inInternational Publication No. WO 96/26087 and will be describedhereinafter.

5. As shown in FIG. 9, a head-protecting air bag device 100 isstructured to include, as main components, an elongated duct 106disposed to extend from a front pillar portion 102 to a roof side railportion 104, an air bag body 112 accommodated in the duct 106 in afolded manner and fixed to a vehicle body at a front-end fixed point 108and at a rear-end fixed point 110, an inflator 116, which is connectedvia a hose 114 to the rear end of the duct 106 and jets out gas when apredetermined high load acts on the side portion of the vehicle body,and a band-shaped strap 118 whose one end is fixed to the vehicle bodyand other end is fixed to the rear end of the air bag body 112. The airbag body 112 is formed by a plurality of cells 120, which are eachformed substantially into a cylinder and are disposed with thelongitudinal directions thereof substantially coinciding with thevertical direction of the vehicle, being connected together.

6. According to the above-described structure, when a predetermined highload acts on the side portion of the vehicle body, gas is ejected fromthe inflator 116. The ejected gas flows into each cell 120 of the foldedair bag body 112 via the hose 114 and the duct 106. As a result, eachcell 120 expands substantially into a cylindrical configuration with thelongitudinal direction thereof substantially coinciding with thevertical direction of the vehicle. The air bag body 112 is therebyinflated similarly to a curtain along a window glass 122. Further, therear end of the air bag body 112 is connected via the strap 118 to thevehicle body, and therefore, the rear-end side of the air bag body 112is reliably disposed at an inner side of the upper portion of a centerpillar portion 124.

7. However, in this head-protecting air bag device 100, the air bag body112 accommodated in the duct 106 in a folded state is disposed over aregion from the front pillar portion 102 to the roof side rail portion104, and therefore, the air bag body 112 is covered by, for example, afront pillar garnish and a roof head lining. As a result, when the airbag body unfolds, the front pillar garnish and the roof head liningdeform, and the air bag body comes out from the respective deformedportions of the front pillar garnish and the roof head lining so as toexpand toward the interior side of the vehicle. For this reason, in acase in which a sun visor or other interior equipment is provided in thevicinity of the front pillar garnish or the roof head lining, there isthe possibility that the deformed portion of the front pillar garnish orthe deformed portion of the roof head lining interferes with the sunvisor or the other interior equipment such that the sun visor or otherinterior equipment is badly damaged due to the large load appliedthereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

8. In view of the above-described circumstances, it is an object of thepresent invention to provide an interior equipment mounting structurefor a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bag body, which canreduce damage caused to a sun visor or other interior equipment duringexpansion of an air bag body.

9. A first aspect of the present invention relates to a sun visor whichis provided as an interior equipment mounting structure for a vehicleincorporating a head-protecting air bag body which unfolds and forms anair-filled cushion in a region from a front pillar to a roof side rail.The sun visor is connected to a vehicle body via an arm and provided tobe movable from an accommodated state, in which the sun visor isdisposed along a vehicle transverse direction and near to a front end ofa roof head lining and substantially parallel to the roof head lining,to at least one predetermined position for use. The sun visor is formedby a main body portion, which is, in the accommodated state of the sunvisor, disposed further toward a vehicle-interior side than a point atwhich the arm is mounted to the vehicle body, and by an overhang portionwhich is, in the accommodated state of the sun visor, projects furthertoward a vehicle-exterior side than the mounting point of the arm, andwhen load of a predetermined value or more acts on the overhang portion,the overhang portion is easily deformable with respect to the main bodyportion.

10. Accordingly, even if, at the time of expansion of the air bag body,the roof head lining deforms and interferes with the overhang portion ofthe sun visor which is in an accommodated state, when the load acting onthe overhang portion is greater than or equal to a predetermined value,the overhang portion easily deforms with respect to the main bodyportion. As a result, load transmitted to the main body portion and thearm of the sun visor can be minimized, and damage to the sun visor canthereby be reduced.

11. A second aspect of the present invention is that a frame of the sunvisor according to the first aspect is divided into two parts, one partbeing at the overhang portion and the other part being at the main bodyportion, and the two separated parts are partially connected to oneanother.

12. Accordingly, when load of a predetermined value or more is appliedto the overhang portion via the roof head lining during expansion of theair bag body, the portion at which the frames for the overhang portionand the main body portion are connected together breaks so that loadtransmitted to the main body portion and to the arm can be minimized.For this reason, damage to the sun visor can be reduced by using asimple structure.

13. A third aspect of the present invention relates to roof head liningdeformation limiting means which is provided as an interior equipmentmounting structure for a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bagbody which expands similarly to a curtain in a region from a pillar to aroof side rail. The roof head lining deformation limiting means isprovided at the roof side rail such that at the time of expansion of theair bag body, it restricts deformation of a roof head lining to reduceimpact load acting on an interior equipment disposed in the vicinity ofthe roof head lining.

14. According to the third aspect of the present invention, deformationof the roof head lining is restricted by the roof head liningdeformation limiting means during expansion of the air bag body, so thatthe impact load acting on the interior equipment disposed in thevicinity of the roof head lining can be reduced. Accordingly, damagecaused to the sun visor or other interior equipment at the time ofexpansion of the air bag body can be reduced.

15. A fourth aspect of the present invention is relates to the roof headlining deformation limiting means according to the third aspect. Theroof head lining deformation limiting means is an interior equipment ofthe roof side rail, which interior equipment is disposed at anintermediate portion of the roof side rail between a portion where theroof side rail is connected to a front pillar and a portion where theroof side rail is connected to a center pillar.

16. As a result, in addition to the effect obtained by the third aspect,there is an advantage in that a reduction in cost can be achievedbecause no specially provided roof head lining deformation limitingmeans is required.

17. A fifth aspect of the present invention is that the interiorequipment of the roof side rail according to the fourth aspect is fixedto an energy absorbing member disposed at the roof side rail, the energyabsorbing member being associated with a corresponding energy absorptionspace.

18. As a result, in addition to the effect obtained by the fourthaspect, there is an advantage in that, even if the head of a vehicleoccupant hits the interior equipment in a collision, the energyabsorbing member plastically deforms to lessen the impact on the head ofthe vehicle occupant.

19. A sixth aspect of the present invention is that the interiorequipment of the roof side rail according to the fourth aspect is anassist grip and a high rigidity seating is provided around a cushionwhich is made of resin and used to fix the assist grip to a vehiclebody.

20. As a result, concentration of load at a fixing portion of the assistgrip, which load concentration is caused by deformation of the roof headlining during expansion of the air bag body, can be received by a highrigidity seating so as to prevent transmission of load to the cushionmade of resin. For this reason, damage to the cushion made of resin canbe prevented.

21. A seventh aspect of the present invention is that the interiorequipment of the roof side rail according to the fourth aspect is a cardholder and the card holder is a resin molded product and includes a highrigidity insert.

22. As a result, concentration of load at a fixing portion of the cardholder, which load concentration is caused by deformation of the roofhead lining during expansion of the air bag body, can be received by ahigh rigidity insert. For this reason, damage to the card holder can beprevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

23.FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional side view taken along line 1—1 inFIG. 3, which schematically shows an interior-side surface of a vehicleat a driver's seat side, to which an interior equipment mountingstructure for a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bag bodyaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

24.FIG. 2 is a perspective view, as seen from the inner rear side of avehicle, which shows a sun visor of the interior equipment mountingstructure for a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bag bodyaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention.

25.FIG. 3 is a side view which schematically shows an interior-sidesurface of a vehicle at a driver's seat side, to which the interiorequipment mounting structure for a vehicle incorporating ahead-protecting air bag body according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention is applied.

26.FIG. 4 is a side view which schematically shows a state in whichexpansion of an air bag body is completed at an interior-side surface ofa vehicle at a driver's seat side, to which the interior equipmentmounting structure for a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bagbody according to the first embodiment of the present invention isapplied.

27.FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 5—5 inFIG. 6.

28.FIG. 6 is a side view which schematically shows an interior-sidesurface of a vehicle at a front passenger seat side, to which aninterior equipment mounting structure for a vehicle incorporating ahead-protecting air bag body according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention is applied.

29.FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 7—7 inFIG. 8.

30.FIG. 8 is a side view which schematically shows an interior-sidesurface of a vehicle at a driver's seat side, to which an interiorequipment mounting structure for a vehicle incorporating ahead-protecting air bag body according to a third embodiment of thepresent invention is applied.

31.FIG. 9 is a side view which schematically shows a state in whichexpansion of an air bag body is completed in a conventionalhead-protecting air bag device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

32. A description will be hereinafter given of an interior equipmentmounting structure for a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bagbody according to a first embodiment of the present invention withreference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

33. It should be noted that arrows “FR”, “UP”, and “IN” shown in theaccompanying drawings respectively represent the forward direction of avehicle, the upward direction thereof, and an inward direction along thetransverse direction of the vehicle.

34. As shown in FIG. 4, a head-protecting air bag device 10 of thepresent embodiment is structured to include, as main components, asensor 12 for detecting the state of a side collision of the vehicle, acylindrical inflator 14 which ejects gas upon operation thereof, and anair bag body 16. The sensor 12 is disposed in the vicinity of the lowerend of a center pillar (B pillar) 18. When a side-collision load of apredetermined value or more acts on a side portion of a vehicle body,the sensor 12 detects the state of a side collision of the vehicle.

35. The inflator 14 is disposed near a portion where a front pillar (Apillar) 20 and an instrument panel 22 are jointed to one another, and isconnected to the above-described sensor 12. Accordingly, when the stateof a side collision of the vehicle is detected by the sensor 12, theinflator 14 is operated.

36. A plurality of non-expanding portions 24, whose longitudinaldirection coincides with the vertical direction of the air bag body, areformed at predetermined intervals at a vertical direction intermediateportion of the air bag body 16 as seen in side view in such a manner asto cross a tension line T which connects a front-side fixed point and arear-side fixed point of the air bag body 16. At the time of expansionof the air bag body, these non-expanding portions 24 allow formation ofa plurality of cylindrical expanding portions which are disposedsubstantially parallel to one another and cross the tension line T.

37. The front end 16A of the air bag body 16 is disposed at a positionwhere the inflator 14 is provided, so as to allow gas ejected from theinflator 14 to flow into the air bag body. An upper end edge of anintermediate portion 16B is disposed along the front pillar 20 and aroof side rail 28, and an upper end edge of the rear end 16C is disposednear a quarter pillar (C pillar) 30.

38. As shown in FIG. 3, the air bag body 16 is accommodated in a regionfrom a front pillar garnish 26 to an outer side portion 42A of a roofhead lining 42 in the transverse direction of the vehicle in such amanner as to be elongated by being folded in a bellows-like shapesubstantially in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

39. As shown in FIG. 1, the roof side rail 28 is formed by a rail outerpanel 48 having a substantially hat-shaped cross-sectional configurationand projecting by a relatively large amount in the outward direction ofthe vehicle, a rail inner panel 40 which slightly projects toward therail outer panel 48, and a rail reinforcement 49 having a substantiallyhat-shaped cross-sectional configuration along the rail outer panel 48and interposed between the rail outer panel 48 and the rail inner panel40. Respective ends of the rail outer panel 48, the rail inner panel 40,and the rail reinforcement 49 at the both sides thereof are joinedtogether by welding to form a closed cross-sectional configuration.Further, the upper end of the roof side rail 28 thus formed is connectedby welding to an outer end of a roof panel 46 in the transversedirection of the vehicle. An opening weather strip 53 is fitted to thelower end of the roof side rail 28.

40. The air bag body 16 is folded within a case 50 in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to an interior-side surface 39A of a doorglass 39 (i.e., in the directions indicated by the double-headed arrow Kin FIG. 1), and the case 50 is disposed between the rail inner panel 40and the roof head lining 42. When the air bag body 16 expands, a cornerportion 50A formed at the lower end of the case 50 at the outer side inthe transverse direction of the vehicle is broken, due to the expansionforce of the air bag body 16, with a V-shaped notch 51, which is formedfurther toward the inner side of the case 50 than the corner portion50A, serving as a breakage starting point. As a result, a lid portion50B opens toward the interior side of the vehicle with respect to a baseportion 50C.

41. At this time, in the roof side rail 28, the lid portion 50B pushesthe roof head lining 42 and the rail inner panel 40 apart from oneanother so that the clearance below the lid portion 50B and between theroof head lining 42 and the rail inner panel 40 (which clearance isusually closed by the weather strip 53) is widened, creating an openingfrom which the air bag body can expand toward the interior of thevehicle.

42. Further, in the case 50, an upper wall portion 50D of the lidportion 50B and an upper wall portion 50E of the base portion 50C aredisposed parallel to each other with an upper end portion 16D of the airbag body 16 interposed therebetween. A through hole is formed in each ofthe upper wall portions 50D and 50E of the case 50. The case 50 is,together with the air bag body 16, fixed to an interior-side portion ofthe rail inner panel 40 by a bolt 44 penetrating the through holesformed in the upper wall portions 50D and 50E and a mounting hole formedin the upper end portion 16D of the air bag body 16, and also by a nut46 which is screwed onto the bolt 44.

43. The roof head lining 42 is made of resin and is formed by a basematerial 43 and a surface cover 45. When the air bag body 16 expands,the vehicle transverse direction outer side portion 42A of the roof headlining 42 deforms, as indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1,toward the interior side of the vehicle due to the expansion force ofthe air bag body 16, and the air bag body 16 thereby expands from theopening toward the interior of the vehicle.

44. As shown in FIG. 3, a sun visor 54 is disposed above and near afront window 52 and is provided to be biaxially rotatable so as to ableto shut out sunlight coming from a transverse direction side of thevehicle as well.

45. As shown in FIG. 1, one end of an arm shaft 56 which forms one partof an arm of the sun visor 54 is connected to an L-shaped bent arm joint58 which forms another part of the arm. One end of the arm joint 58 issupported at a bracket 60 such that the arm joint 58 rotates in inwarddirections substantially on a horizontal plane (i.e., the directionsindicated by arrows A and B in FIG. 1). The bracket 60 is fixed to aheader panel (not shown) by self-tapping screws 62.

46. As shown in FIG. 2, the arm shaft 56 of the sun visor 54 isrotatably connected to the arm joint 58 such that the arm shaft 56 canrotate in inward directions on a vertical plane (i.e., the directionsindicated by arrows C and D in FIG. 2). Further, the sun visor 54 isformed by a main body portion 64 in which the arm shaft 56 bent in arectangular form is built-in as a frame 57 at a peripheral edge portionthereof, and an overhang portion 66 disposed at the side of the mainbody portion 64 and having a portion which projects further outward inthe transverse direction of the vehicle than a point P at which the armjoint 58 is mounted to the roof head lining 42. A frame 68 bent into arectangular shape is built-in at a peripheral edge portion of theoverhang portion 66 and is fixed, at a side 68A adjacent to the mainbody portion 64, to a side 57A of the frame 57 at two welded portions Y1and Y2 formed with a predetermined distance therebetween.

47. Accordingly, when a predetermined load or more acts on the overhangportion 66, the two welded portions Y1 and Y2 break, and as indicated bythe two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, the overhang portion 66 easily deformsdownward with respect to the main body portion 64 (i.e., in thedirection indicated by arrow F in FIG. 1).

48. Next, operation of the present first embodiment will be described.

49. In the present first embodiment, when a side-collision load of apredetermined value or more acts on the side portion of the vehiclebody, the occurrence of a side surface collision of the vehicle isdetected by the sensor 12. The inflator 14 then operates to eject apredetermined amount of gas. As a result, the air bag body 16 starts toexpand, and then further expands similarly to a curtain down to beneaththe roof side rail 28 while pushing open the case 50 as well as thepillar garnish 26 of the front pillar 20 and the vehicle transversedirection outer side portion 42A of the roof head lining 42. The air bagbody 16 is thus interposed between the side portion of the vehicle bodyand the head of the vehicle occupant to protect the head of the vehicleoccupant.

50. In this case, as illustrated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1,when the vehicle transverse direction outer side portion 42A of the roofhead lining 42 interferes with the overhang portion 66 of the sun visor54 and a predetermined load or more acts on the overhang portion 66, thetwo welded portions Y1 and Y2, which are portions at which the frame 68of the overhang portion 66 and the frame 57 of the main body portion 64are connected, break, and the overhang portion 66 thereby easily deformsdownward with respect to the main body portion 64 (i.e., in thedirection indicated by arrow F in FIG. 1). For this reason, load appliedfrom the air bag body 16 to the sun visor 54 is effectively absorbed andtransmission of load to the main body portion 64, the arm shaft 56, andthe arm joint 58 can be kept to a minimum. As a result, by using asimple structure, it is possible to limit the breakage of the sun visor54 to merely the downward bending of the overhang portion 66 and also toprevent the sun visor 54 from coming off from the vehicle body.

51. With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, a description will be hereinaftergiven of a second embodiment of an interior equipment mounting structurefor a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bag body according tothe present invention.

52. The same members as those of the first embodiment will be denoted bythe same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

53. As shown in FIG. 6, in the present second embodiment, thehead-protecting air bag device 10 is disposed along the front pillar 20and the roof side rail 28 at the side of a front passenger seat 70. Anassist grip 72, which serves as roof head lining deformation limitingmeans and which is used as interior equipment of the roof side railportion, is disposed at an intermediate position between a portion wherethe roof side rail 28 is connected to the front pillar 20 and a portionwhere the roof side rail 28 is connected to the center pillar 18.

54. As shown in FIG. 5, a bracket 76 having a substantially hat-shapedcross-sectional configuration and serving as an energy absorbing memberis fixed to the surface of the rail inner panel 40 at an interior sideof the vehicle. The plate thickness of the bracket 76 is set to besmaller than that of the rail inner panel 40. A through hole 77 isformed in the rail inner panel 40 at a position which faces the bracket76.

55. A concave portion 74 is formed at the vehicle transverse directionouter side portion 42A of the roof head lining 42 (i.e., at apredetermined position at the roof side rail 28) in such a manner as tobe recessed toward the roof side rail 28.

56. The air bag body 16 of the air bag device 10 and the case 50 areaccommodated in a space 78 surrounded by the outer end of the roof headlining 42, the rail inner panel 40, and the bracket 76. The air bag body16 is folded so as to have a rectangular cross-sectional configurationalong the line perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the airbag body, and an upper end portion 16D of the air bag body 16 extendsalong the bracket 76 and the concave portion 74. Correspondingly, thecase 50 for maintaining the shape of the air bag body 16 is also bentinto a rectangular shape, and the upper wall portions 50D and 50E whichcover the front and rear surfaces of the upper end portion 16D of theair bag body 16 also extend along the bracket 76 and the concave portion74. Accordingly, when the head of the vehicle occupant secondarilystrikes against the assist grip 72 at the time of a side collision ofthe vehicle, the bracket 76 which has a small plate thicknessplastically deforms to allow absorption of energy. At this time, afastener 80, which will be described later, passes through the throughhole 77 formed in the rail inner panel 40 and moves backward toward aninterior side of the closed space of the roof side rail 28. A rib may beprovided at a position which faces the air bag body 16 (i.e., a positionbetween the upper end of the roof side rail 28 and the roof head lining42) to absorb energy generated during the secondary colliding of thehead of the vehicle occupant at the time of a side collision.

57. The assist grip 72 made of resin is provided at the concave portion74 of the roof head lining 42. The assist grip 72 is formed by a gripportion 72A (see FIG. 6) which the vehicle occupant grips, flatplate-shaped mounting portions 72B provided at front and rear ends ofthe grip portion 72A in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, andcover portions 72C which cover the mounting portions 72B, respectively.

58. The assist grip 72 is fixed by fasteners 80, each of which is formedby a collar 82, a fixing bolt 84, a washer 86, and a nut 88. Morespecifically, the cylindrical collar 82 made of resin is fitted with apredetermined position of the concave portion 74 of the roof head lining42 (i.e., a position coaxial with the through hole 77 of the rail innerpanel 40). Each mounting portion 72B of the assist grip 72 is fixed tothe bracket 76 by placing the mounting portion 72B at the vehicleinterior side end of the collar 82, inserting the fixing bolt 84, whichpasses through the washer 86, into the collar 82, and screwing thefixing bolt 84 with the nut 88.

59. In the present second embodiment, the upper end portion 16D of theair bag body 16 and the upper wall portions 50D and 50E of the case 50are disposed in a state of contacting one another (i.e., in a state ofbeing nipped) between the vehicle exterior side surface of the concaveportion 74 of the roof head lining 42 and the vehicle interior sidesurface of the bracket 76. The upper end portion 16D of the air bag body16 and the upper wall portions 50D and 50E of the case 50 are, togetherwith the assist grip 72, fastened together by the fasteners 80 forfixing the assist grip 72. The assist grip 72 is fixed at two positions(one at the front side and one at the rear side of the assist grip 72),and the upper end portion 16D of the air bag body 16 and the upper wallportions 50D and 50E of the case 50 are fastened together at both fixingpoints.

60. Further, a cushion 90 made of resin is disposed between the collar82 and the concave portion 74 of the roof head lining 42. A seating 92is provided around the cushion 90 at the roof head lining 42 side. Theseating 92 is made of metal so as to have a high rigidity, and is nippedbetween the outer periphery of the cushion 90 and the roof head lining42.

61. The structure in which the air bag body 16 and the upper wallportions 50D and 50E of the case 50 are tightened together is appliedsimilarly to an assist grip disposed at the rear side of the vehicle.Further, regions of the air bag body 16 other than the portions wherethe assist grip 72 is disposed are fixed at suitable intervals byfasteners exclusively used for the air bag.

62. Next, the operation and effects of the present second embodimentwill be described.

63. When a side-collision load of a predetermined value or more acts onthe side portion of the vehicle body, the occurrence of a side-surfacecollision is detected by the sensor 12. For this reason, the inflator 14operates and ejects a predetermined amount of gas. As a result, the airbag body 16 starts to expand, and due to the swelling pressure at thistime, the case 50 is broken at the corner portion 50A so as to allowunfolding of the air bag body 16. The inflated air bag body 16 furtherexpands similarly to a curtain to below the roof side rail 28 whilepushing open the front pillar garnish 26 and the vehicle transversedirection outer side portion 42A of the roof head lining 42. As aresult, the air bag body 16 is interposed between the side portion ofthe vehicle body and the head of the vehicle occupant to protect thehead of the vehicle occupant.

64. In the present second embodiment, the mounting portions 72B of theassist grip 72 serving as the roof head lining deformation limitingmeans restrict deformation of the vehicle transverse direction outerside portion 42A of the roof head lining 42 at this time so as toprevent the roof head lining 42 from interfering with the sun visor 54disposed near the roof head lining 42. In this case, even if the outerside portion 42A of the roof head lining 42 were to interfere with thesun visor 54 disposed near the roof head lining 42, impact load actingon the sun visor 54 would be significantly lessened. For this reason,breakage of the sun visor 54 can be reduced and the sun visor 54 canalso be prevented from falling off.

65. The present second embodiment provides the seating 92 having highrigidity around the cushion 90 for fixing the assist grip 72 to thevehicle body. Therefore, concentration of load caused by deformation ofthe outer side portion 42A of the roof head lining 42 during theexpansion of the air bag body is received by the high-rigidity seating92 so as to prevent transmission of load to the cushion 90 made ofresin. As a result, cracking or falling off of the cushion 90 can beprevented.

66. Further, in the present embodiment, when the head of the vehicleoccupant secondarily strikes against the assist grip 72 at the time ofside collision of the vehicle, the bracket 76 formed to have arelatively small plate thickness plastically deforms, and the fastener80 passes through the through hole 77 formed in the rail inner panel 40and moves backward toward the interior of the closed space of the roofside rail 28, thereby allowing absorption of energy. For this reason,even if the head of the vehicle occupant abuts against the assist grip72 at the time of collision of the vehicle, the impact applied to thehead of the vehicle occupant can be lessened.

67. Moreover, in the present embodiment, the assist grip 72 is used asthe roof head lining deformation limiting means, and therefore, it isnot necessary to provide a special roof head lining deformation limitingmeans particularly used for that purpose. A reduction in cost can beachieved accordingly.

68. With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, a description will be hereinaftergiven of a third embodiment of an interior equipment mounting structurefor a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bag body.

69. The same members as those of the second embodiment will be denotedby the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

70. As shown in FIG. 8, in the present third embodiment, thehead-protecting air bag device 10 is disposed along the front pillar 20and the roof side rail 28 at the side of a driver's seat 94. A cardholder 96, which serves as the roof head lining deformation limitingmeans and which is used as interior equipment of the roof side railportion, is disposed at an intermediate position between a portion wherethe roof side rail 28 is connected to the front pillar 20 and a portionwhere the roof side rail 28 is connected to the center pillar 18.

71. As shown in FIG. 7, the card holder 96 made of resin is disposed atthe concave portion 74 of the roof head lining 42 and is formed to havea U-shaped cross-sectional configuration. An insert 98 is embedded in amounting portion 96A of the card holder 96. The card holder 96 is fixedby a fastener 99 which is formed by a fixing screw 97 and a nut 88. Morespecifically, the mounting portion 96A of the card holder 96 abutsagainst a predetermined position of the concave portion 74 of the roofhead lining 42 (i.e., a position coaxial with the through hole 77 of therail inner panel 40), and the screw 97 passes through a through holeformed in the mounting portion 96A. In this state, when the fixing screw97 is screwed into the nut 88, the mounting portion 96A of the cardholder 96 is fixed to the bracket 76.

72. In the present embodiment, the upper end portion 16D of the air bagbody 16 and the upper wall portions 50D and 50E of the case 50 are,together with the card holder 96, fastened together by the fastener 99for fixing the card holder 96. The card holder 96 is fixed at twoplaces, one at the front side and one at the rear side, of the cardholder 96 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The upper endportion 16D of the air bag body 16 and the upper wall portions 50D and50E of the case 50 are fastened together at both fixing points. Further,the insert 98 is made of a metallic material such as iron and thereforehas high rigidity.

73. Next, the operation and effects of the present third embodiment willbe described.

74. When a side-collision load acts on the side portion of the vehiclebody, the occurrence of a side-surface collision is detected by thesensor 12. For this reason, the inflator 14 operates and ejects apredetermined amount of gas. As a result, the air bag body 16 starts toexpand, and due to the swelling pressure thereof, the case 50 is brokenat the corner portion 50A so as to allow the air bag to unfold. Theinflated air bag body 16 further expands similarly to a curtain tobeneath the roof side rail 28 while pushing open the front pillargarnish 26 and the vehicle transverse direction outer side portion 42Aof the roof head lining 42. As a result, the air bag body 16 isinterposed between the side portion of the vehicle body and the head ofthe vehicle occupant so as to protect the head of the vehicle occupant.

75. At this time, in the present embodiment, the mounting portion 96A ofthe card holder 96 serving as the roof head lining deformation limitingmeans restricts deformation of the outer side portion 42A of the roofhead lining 42 so as to prevent the roof head lining 42 from interferingwith the sun visor 54 positioned near the roof head lining 42. In thiscase, even if the outer side portion 42A of the roof head lining 42 wereto interfere with the sun visor 54 positioned near the roof head lining42, impact load acting on the sun visor 54 would be significantlylessened. For this reason, damage caused to the sun visor 54 can belessened, and the sun visor 54 can also be prevented from falling off.

76. In the present third embodiment, the high-rigidity insert 98 isembedded in the mounting portion 96A which fixes the card holder 96 tothe vehicle body. Therefore, concentration of load caused by deformationof the outer side portion 42A of the roof head lining 42 duringexpansion of the air bag body is received by the high-rigidity insert98, and thus cracking and falling off of the mounting portion 96A of thecard holder 96 can be prevented.

77. Further, in the present embodiment, when the head of the vehicleoccupant secondarily strikes against the card holder 96 at the time of aside collision of the vehicle, the bracket 76 formed to have arelatively small plate thickness plastically deforms, and the fastener99 passes through the through hole 77 formed in the rail inner panel 40and moves backward toward the interior of the closed space of the roofside rail 28, thereby allowing absorption of energy. For this reason,even if the head of the vehicle occupant hits the card holder 96 at thetime of a collision of the vehicle, impact applied to the head of thevehicle occupant can be lessened.

78. Moreover, in the present third embodiment, the card holder 96 isused as the roof head lining deformation limiting means, and therefore,it is not necessary to provide a special roof head lining deformationlimiting means exclusively used for this purpose. A reduction in costcan be achieved accordingly.

79. Although the present invention has been described in detail asrelated to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilledin the art that the present invention is not limited to these specificembodiments thereof and other various modifications may be made withinthe scope of the present invention. For example, in the firstembodiment, in the sun visor 54, the frame 68 of the overhang portion 66and the frame 57 of the main body portion 64 are fixed together at thetwo welding portions Y1 and Y2, but the number of these welding portionsis not limited to two. Further, these frames may be connected by othermeans such as bonding or engagement in place of welding. Moreover, astructure in which plate-shaped inserts are connected together may beused in place of the frames 68 and 57.

80. Further, in the second and third embodiments, although the bracket76 having a plate thickness smaller than that of the rail inner panel 40and having a substantially hat-shaped cross-sectional configuration isused as the energy absorbing member, other energy absorbing members maybe used in place of the bracket 76.

81. Moreover, in each of the above-described embodiments, the structurein which the folded air bag body 16 is accommodated within the case 50is employed. However, the case 50 is not necessarily required, and theair bag body 16 may be maintained in a folded state in such a mannerthat the folded air bag body 16 is partially wrapped by an easily-brokenwrapping material or partially held temporarily by a tape-shapedhook-and-loop fastener.

What is claimed is:
 1. An interior equipment mounting structure for avehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bag body which unfolds andforms an air-filled cushion in a region from a front pillar to a roofside rail, comprising: a sun visor connected to a vehicle body andprovided to be movable from an accommodated state, in which said sunvisor is disposed along a vehicle transverse direction and near to afront end of a roof head lining and substantially parallel to the roofhead lining, to at least one predetermined position for use; and an armby which said sun visor is connected to the vehicle body, wherein saidsun visor is formed by a main body portion, which is, in theaccommodated state of the sun visor, disposed further toward avehicle-interior side than a point at which the arm is mounted to thevehicle body, and by an overhang portion which projects, in theaccommodated state of the sun visor, further toward a vehicle-exteriorside than the mounting point of the arm, and when load of apredetermined value or more acts on the overhang portion, the overhangportion is easily deformable with respect to the main body portion. 2.An interior equipment mounting structure for a vehicle incorporating ahead-protecting air bag body according to claim 1 , wherein a frame ofsaid sun visor is divided into two parts, one part being at the overhangportion and the other part being at the main body portion, and at leastone portion of each of the two separated parts of the frame of the sunvisor are connected to each other.
 3. An interior equipment mountingstructure for a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bag bodyaccording to claim 2 , wherein at least one portion of each of the twoseparated parts of the frame of the sun visor are connected to eachother so that, when a load of a predetermined value or greater acts onthe overhang portion via the roof head lining at the time of expansionof the air bag body, connected portions of the separated parts of theframe separate from each other.
 4. An interior equipment mountingstructure for a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bag bodyaccording to claim 1 , wherein a frame of said sun visor is divided intotwo parts, one part being at the overhang portion and the other partbeing at the main body portion, and at least one portion of each of thetwo separated parts of the frame of the sun visor are connected to eachother by welding.
 5. An interior equipment mounting structure for avehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bag body which unfolds andforms an air-filled cushion in a region from a front pillar to a roofside rail, comprising: a sun visor connected to a vehicle body andprovided to be movable from an accommodated state, in which said sunvisor is disposed along a vehicle transverse direction and near to afront end of a roof head lining and substantially parallel to the roofhead lining, to at least one predetermined position for use; and an armby which said sun visor is connected to the vehicle body, wherein saidsun visor includes an air bag-side portion which is opposed to the airbag body, and a non air-bag-side portion which is disposed furtherinwardly in a vehicle transverse direction than the air bag-side portionand which is supported by said arm, and a deformable portion is providedbetween the air bag-side portion and the non air-bag-side portion.
 6. Aninterior equipment mounting structure for a vehicle incorporating ahead-protecting air bag body according to claim 5 , wherein thedeformable portion is a fragile portion which connects the air bag-sideportion and the non air-bag-side portion.
 7. An interior equipmentmounting structure for a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bagbody according to claim 5 , wherein a frame of said sun visor is dividedinto two parts, one part being at a main body portion which is the nonair-bag-side portion and the other part being at an overhang portionwhich is the air bag-side portion, and at least one portion of each ofthe two separated parts of the frame of the sun visor are connected toeach other.
 8. An interior equipment mounting structure for a vehicleincorporating a head-protecting air bag body which expands similarly toa curtain in a region from a pillar to a roof side rail, comprising:roof head lining deformation limiting means which is provided at theroof side rail and at the time of expansion of the air bag body,restricts deformation of a roof head lining to reduce impact load actingon an interior equipment disposed in the vicinity of the roof headlining.
 9. An interior equipment mounting structure for a vehicleincorporating a head-protecting air bag body according to claim 8 ,wherein said roof head lining deformation limiting means is an interiorequipment of the roof side rail, which interior equipment is disposed atan intermediate portion of the roof side rail between a portion wherethe roof side rail is connected to a front pillar and a portion wherethe roof side rail is connected to a center pillar.
 10. An interiorequipment mounting structure for a vehicle incorporating ahead-protecting air bag body according to claim 9 , wherein the interiorequipment of the roof side rail is fixed to an energy absorbing memberdisposed at the roof side rail, the energy absorbing member beingassociated with a corresponding energy absorption space.
 11. An interiorequipment mounting structure for a vehicle incorporating ahead-protecting air bag body according to claim 9 , wherein the interiorequipment of the roof side rail is disposed at a position furtherinwardly in a vehicle transverse direction than the head-protecting airbag body.
 12. An interior equipment mounting structure for a vehicleincorporating a head-protecting air bag body according to claim 9 ,wherein the interior equipment of the roof side rail is an assist grip.13. An interior equipment mounting structure for a vehicle incorporatinga head-protecting air bag body according to claim 12 , wherein a highrigidity seating is provided around a cushion which is made of resin andused to fix the assist grip to a vehicle body.
 14. An interior equipmentmounting structure for a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bagbody according to claim 9 , wherein the interior equipment of the roofside rail is a card holder.
 15. An interior equipment mounting structurefor a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bag body according toclaim 14 , wherein the card holder is a resin molded product andincludes a high rigidity insert.
 16. An interior equipment mountingstructure for a vehicle incorporating a head-protecting air bag bodyaccording to claim 9 , wherein the interior equipment of the roof siderail includes a card holder provided at a driver's seat side of avehicle and an assist grip provided at a front passenger's seat side ofthe vehicle.
 17. An interior equipment mounting structure for a vehicleincorporating a head-protecting air bag body according to claim 10 ,wherein the energy absorbing member is a metal bracket disposed at avehicle transverse direction inner side of the roof side rail and havinga substantially hat-shaped cross-sectional configuration.
 18. Aninterior equipment mounting structure for a vehicle incorporating ahead-protecting air bag body according to claim 17 , wherein the roofside rail has a closed cross-sectional configuration formed by a railouter panel, a rail inner panel, and a rail reinforcement interposedbetween the rail outer panel and the rail inner panel, and both ends ofthe metal bracket are fixed to the rail inner panel, and the interiorequipment of the roof side rail is fixed at an intermediate portion ofthe metal bracket by a fastener, and a hole is formed in the rail innerpanel at a position corresponding to the fastener so as to allow thefastener to move toward an outer side of the vehicle.
 19. A vehiclestructure for incorporating in the vicinity of a sun visor ahead-protecting air bag which expands similarly to a curtain in a regionfrom a front pillar to a roof side rail, the sun visor being provided tobe movable from an accommodated state, in which the sun visor isdisposed along a vehicle transverse direction and near to a front end ofa roof head lining and substantially parallel to the roof head lining,to at least one predetermined position for use, said vehicle structurecomprising: an air bag body which is mounted to the roof side rail, andat the time of expanding, deforms the roof head lining toward aninterior side of the vehicle and further expands toward the interiorside of the vehicle; and roof head lining deformation limiting meanswhich is mounted to the roof side rail at a position between the sunvisor and said air bag body and limits deformation of the roof headlining to limit application of expansion force of the air bag body tothe sun visor.
 20. A vehicle structure according to claim 19 , whereinthe roof head lining deformation limiting means includes a card holderprovided at a driver's seat side of a vehicle and an assist gripprovided at a front passenger's seat side of the vehicle.